Just 26 Random Products We Really Love

Crossword puzzle books, watermelon juice moisturizer, versatile toddler toys, and other products we (the BuzzFeed Shopping team) truly adore.

1. An Instax Mini Bluetooh phone photo printer that pairs to an app so you can apply Snapchat and Insta-level filters to IRL prints that won't disappear in 10 seconds — or even 10 years.

Kayla Boyd/BuzzFeed

"This is one of my absolute favorite things I own. This adorable portable printer allows me the joy of having physical photos plastered around my room, without having to carry around a bulky camera that never fits in my purse. In addition to looking cute on display in my room, I've also loved using prints in my planner and on vision boards. I've even printed out some quotes I found on Pinterest. And if you are already a fan of Fujifilm Instax Mini cameras, then you'll be thrilled to know that this printer uses the exact same film. The printer is super user-friendly and allows you to print off ~any~ picture from your camera roll through the Instax Mini Link app. Once the app is connected to your printer, you can important your photo and then you're given tons of creative options. You can adjust the crop of your photo, add a filter, or even make a collage! Another useful thing I've used my printer for is finding an old picture of me and a friend, popping on a 'Happy Birthday' filter, and giving it to them in a frame as a gift." —Kayla Boyd (check out her full Fujifilm Instax Mini Printer review)

Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in three colors and with or without film included).

2. The New York Times' Best of the Week crossword puzzle books to bust boredom and keep your brain engaged more than another Friends marathon would while you're staying at home.

Maitland Quitmeyer/BuzzFeed

"I love crosswords. Growing up, my brother and I (and sometimes my dad when we could talk him into it) used to make copies of the New York Magazine crossword of the week and race our way through it. Yes, I'm a little competitive, why do you ask? I've put my fair share of crossword puzzles in shopping roundups, so when I saw this stay-at-home time coming around the bend, I ordered a couple of these NYT day-of-the-week crossword books.

They become more difficult throughout the week — the easiest on Monday, and the most difficult on Saturday. The famous Sunday puzzle? It's about a midweek-level. PLUS, these compilations are spiral-bound to make filling them out (and keeping your place) super easy. As a lefty, I am PLAGUED by hard-to-write-in nonspiral bound volumes. If you're bored-in-the-house-and-I'm-in-the-house-bored, or just need a little break from hours of TikTok (me me, very much me), I would definitely recommend these!" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in Monday-Sunday). The Wednesday edition is also available on Bookshop (which supports local booksellers) for $11.95.

3. OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream, a super affordable leave-in treatment sure to leave you believing in ~curl~ power.

amazon.com, amazon.com

"I use this usually right out of the shower on wet or damp hair, and like how it doesn't weigh down my hair and makes my curls stand out more once my hair dries. Not to mention the lovely scent!" —Nusrat Sultana

Promising review: "I heard about this product from curly hair people on Reddit and I can't believe how well it works! I have very fine, soft curly/wavy hair and this cream doesn't make them sticky or heavy and just beautifully enhances my curly texture. It helps with the frizz too (I live in GA, so yeaaaaahhh). I had great success air drying with it and applying to wet hair, and tiny touch-ups on dry as well. I don't like crunchy curls and this product keeps my hair touchable and soft." —Ekaterina D.

Get it from Amazon for $5.92.

4. A dang delightful sloth planner pad that, unlike your current to do list, won't make you feel super rushed. These tree-dwelling pals are here to remind you to take life at your own pace, bb.

Amazon

"There are two things I love: sloths and not forgetting what I'm supposed to do for work. And while I *am* excellent at watching every sloth video available on the internet, I am *not* great at staying organized. Enter this handy-dandy sloth to-do notepad. It helps me break down my weekly tasks by priority so I never get overwhelmed by a busy week — aka when I get an email about something I need to do, instead of going 'oh crap, I need to remember to do that later,' I just write it down and finish whatever I'm doing first. I should mention each page is technically for individual days, but luckily for me I don't have an entire agenda per day, so I plan out by week.

And for anyone who's not a natural-born multitasker, this is great for you! I, for one, like to do one thing at a time, so it's great to be able to list everything by time frame (like to do soon or to do after a nap) so I can think out the order of importance. I don't have to say how SATISFYING it is to check things off when I complete them — do I sometimes write things down just to give it a check? Maybe. It also has cute ways to motivate me, like a mood- and productivity-rating method in the form of sloths. Dare I say, I owe these little sloth heads full credit for keeping me out of stress mode every week — they just a have a way with...planning? Who knew! I guess it turns out that the only way to make me act like an adult is to have me use a sloth-themed planner — but I'll take it." —Emma McAnaw

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

5. An animal piano play mat your baby can operate with their hands or feet for songs, lights, and educational tidbits about colors and numbers. It's even got different settings for different stages of your kiddo's development, so it will entertain for longer than most of the stuff in their toy box.

Amazon

The four modes are songs and lights, songs teaching them about things like animals and shapes, music plus educational phrases, and a mode that makes the keys sound like a real piano for aspiring Beethovens out there. It also has ties you can attach to the walls of a crib!

"'Come and join the animal band!' This was one of the first toys we bought our son and almost a year later it's still a hit for him (and us). The off-brand Idina Menzel that sings all of the tunes about Purple Monkey and Green Froggy should probably receive one of those Grammys they don't televise — she's that good. These songs will probably never leave my brain but I'm totally OK with that because it was one of the few things that could buy us five whole minutes of downtime. " —John Mihaly

Get it from Amazon for $17.39.

6. Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer, a vegan and cruelty-free formula that contains antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, so it can do double duty as a moisturizer and serum to help you get glowy.

Sephora

"I've been using this product for the last month and it has quickly become one of my favorites. It's a brightening and lightweight moisturizer that really works! I like to use it in the morning for a fresh start to my day. The pretty pink hue and glass bottle also just looks gorgeous on my counter — no complaints!" —Heather Braga

Get it from Sephora for $39.

7. A freaking huge scrunchie that'll help keep your hair from becoming a tangled mess and allow your zero-effort pony to still make a dramatic entrance on a Zoom call.

Emma Lord/BuzzFeed, Free People

"Do you ever see something that looks so cute on your friend that a million synapses in your brain start firing the word 'NEED'? Because that is what happened to me a few months ago when I saw a chic friend of mine wearing this $12 'Super Scrunchie' from Free People. Behold her in all of her ginormous, silky majesty. The Super Scrunchie is not only many things I love in a scrunchie, but many things I aspire, as a human, to be: billowing, unrepentant, and fancy as heck. At first I just loved it because it was so pretty, but I've noticed it's actually been great for keeping my hair from tangling overnight. In the pic on the left we've got some Day Two hair, folks! My hair is super fine and usually at this point it gets so limp and frizzy that I'll either have to wash/blowdry it again or just shove it a baseball cap like a celeb at LAX, but on nights I've worn the Super Scrunchie to bed it's been significantly easier to maintain. Not only that, but it's a quick fix on days when I'm not really feeling my hair at all. Suddenly that sloppy bun I shove my hair in before planting myself at my laptop all day is ~avant garde~." —Emma Lord (Check out her full scrunchie review.)

Get it from Free People for $12 (available in 12 colors).

8. A super thick eye mask perfect for anyone who needs vampire-level darkness to snooze.

Amazon

The adjustable 3D eye cups also won't put pressure on your eyes and can even allow you to take a mid-day nap without smudging your mascara!

"I sleep with this every dang night! My husband goes to bed hours after I do (I like my beauty sleep) and because our apartment is so small I could always see his reading light and/or the TV screen. No other mask I've used has blocked out light as well as this. I love that I can open my eyes and blink in this and that, with the adjustable strap and eye patches, no light ever gets in. Ever." —Mal Mower

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

9. An 18-spice kit that's a chef starter pack in the practical, literal sense, not in the meme sense. That kind of starter pack would come with, like, fingers to kiss in satisfaction and a rat that controls you from under your hat.

Hannah Loewentheil/BuzzFeed

"Anyone who cooks knows that spices and seasonings are so important. But filling up a brand new spice drawer from scratch is overwhelming and can quickly get expensive. So when I stumbled upon Spicewalla's kitchen essentials spices and seasonings starter pack, I was intrigued. The adorably packaged, colorful set comes with 18 common spices and seasonings from rosemary and fennel seed to oregano and smoked paprika. It arrives in a single box filled with the different spices and seasonings, packaged in beautifully colored jars. Instead of hiding them in a drawer, I immediately wanted to showcase them. It just so happened the whole set fit like a glove on a shelf over my stove, and they give my kitchen a perfect pop of color. I can honestly say that this is one of the best products I've gotten for my new home. Of course, it's just as practical as it is cute. Whatever I'm cooking, any spices I need are right at my fingertips. There's turmeric, cumin, and coriander for curries, rosemary, crushed red pepper and oregano perfect for Italian dishes, and garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika for tacos or fajitas. This one set contains everything I need." — Hannah Loewentheil

Get it from Amazon for $79.99.

10. Spontuneous, a board game for all the song lyric aficionados out there who are looking for something to do other than go down deep Folklore lyric analysis rabbit holes. Mood, tbh.

Amazon

I really enjoy that the box says "Talent not required!" because that sounds like my kind of game.

"My friends and I played this game and we enjoyed it a ton. I will say that the board game is what can create a limitation since it ends rather quickly. We were having a good time and really could have gone much longer than the board game's journey allows. If you want to, you can ditch the board and just follow the game with the cards. If you do that, then just take points down and determine how many points you guys are playing to. That will elongate the game." —Marquaysa Battle

Promising review: "This game was a blast, however, my dad knows so many songs, he blew right through the board and the game didn't last very long! Before the game begins, you write down three to five words, and then when it's your turn, you say one of the words, and the other players have 15 seconds to sing at least five words from a song containing that word. You advance around a giant treble clef and land on spaces that make you pick up cards with challenges. The cards say things like, 'You have 15 seconds to sing at least five words from any country song, if you can't, go back six spaces.' Half of us are not anywhere near decent singers, my dad actually can't hold a tune to save his life, however, he belted out songs like no one's business. LOL It was hilarious and we are looking forward to playing it again!" —Kimberly

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

11. A genius smart core trainer that turns doing planks (ugh) into a game (yes, really). Just pop your phone in the middle, open the app, and move around on the 360-degree swiveling board to use your body as a controller in the games!

Amazon

You can pay extra for more games in the app, but it comes with two free ones. And because I know core workouts are rough even if they are a game, don't worry — this claims to help your core strength with just three minutes of use per day! It fits any size phone and the app can be downloaded to Android or iOS.

"Getting a Stealth board was the very best thing that has happened to me during quarantine. Mixing the fun of games on your phone with the natural endorphins you get from exercising is, to put it lightly, genius. I have two in my home and my husband and I compete daily to see who can last the longest. My favorite game is the paragliding challenge, he's into the planet-blasting space adventure. Nerd." —Mal Mower

Promising review: "This is by far the most valuable piece of home fitness equipment I have purchased. During the pandemic I've been without regular visits to the gym. I have resistance bands and a pull-up bar, but I was really missing the core workout that I was able to do with the targeting machines at the gym. I was skeptical when I saw an ad for this on Instagram, but intrigued. If you can’t do a full plank you want to be on your knees to start. This is definitely an intermediate to advanced piece of equipment. I paid the small fee for some of the other games in the app, but wasn’t really impressed. The free games included are exactly what I’m looking for." —Jonathan G.

Get it from Amazon for $119.

12. Sun Bum SPF 30 Scalp and Hair Mist, a cruelty-free wonder spritz to save your scalp from sunburn (whether or not said scalp has hair on it).

Target

"After shaving my husband's head during quarantine, we knew we'd need something to protect his now-exposed scalp during summer activities. Ya can't wear a hat in the pool! Anyways, we sprayed his head during our first beach day and he hasn't had a burn yet! It's not thick and doesn't leave any residue. Added bonus? It's vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, oxybenzone-free, and phthalate-free." —Heather Braga

Get it from Target for $14.99.

13. Ribbed bike shorts you may want to buy in every color and wear every single day for the rest of stay-at-home times. They may start to become one with your body (they already feel like they could be).

Free People

"I am basically just a sentient pair of bike shorts now. I got these in pink and the fabric is thin and compressive, but not at all see-through, and very cozy to wear around the house or on socially-distanced neighborhood walks. I wouldn't recommend these for anything high-impact in public just based on the construction of them, but def good for at-home workouts or low-impact anything." —Emma Lord

Get them from Free People for $20 (available in sizes S/M-M/L and in 11 colors).

14. The Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor, a next-level monitor with everything from a built-in night light to two-way audio to temperature monitoring to help you and your kiddo get the best snooze possible, baby.

Amazon

You can share the feed with other family members and caretakers, and the app even records milestones like their first time sleeping through the night.

"The Nanit is a big-time investment in everyone getting a good night's sleep. The camera mounts above the crib and streams live HD and night vision to iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Show devices. That essentially means your phone becomes a monitor (via the app) that you're less apt to lose and won't forget to charge. The night vision allowed us to hang back whenever we heard a noise so we could make better decisions about whether the baby's 'got this' or we needed to handle the situation. We get weekly reports on our baby's sleep patterns as well as updates and tips sent directly to the app. Not sure how we lived without this, would recommend to every parent." —John Mihaly

Get it from Amazon for $287.32+ (available in wall-mounted or floor stand versions).

15. An adorable little book that asks you to respond to prompts about your wonderful mama — from favorite memories to inside jokes — to create a tome she'll treasure way more than a super-pricey gift.

Amazon

It includes 50 fill-in-the-blank pages with prompts from the sentimental ("I'm thankful I got your...") to the quirky ("If you were a scent, you'd be..."). I also got this for my mom a few years ago and she adored it, and I've gotten the "Why You're My Bestie" version from my BFF and the "What I Love About Dad" one for my dad, and they were all a huge hit!

"I gave this fabulous book to my mom for Mother's Day last year — she's a very typical, 'I don't want any gifts, I just want to spend time with you and your brother,' mom, which is sweet, but doesn't help me out when I'm trying to shop for her!!!! This was perfect, though! The book is filled with prompts for you to answer, and you can be as soft and mushy or as hilarious as you wish! I do recommend planning out your answers in advance so as not to have to scribble out wrong answers. This is something that my mom still opens up and reads every few weeks." —Sam Wieder

Get it from Amazon for $10 (also available in 13 other versions, including for friends, S.O.s, and grandparents).

16. Supergoop! SPF 30 City Sunscreen Serum, a sunscreen, moisturizer, and antioxidant-filled serum all rolled into one. It's cruelty-free, paraben-free, odor-free, and seriously hassle-free, too. 🙌

Sephora

I use this stuff daily and adore it! I love that it's not perfumey, and it's really light and easy. I'm very low-key when it comes to beauty and skincare, but what matters most to me is that I get some SPF on my face, plus some moisture so my skin doesn't feel all dry after blow-drying my hair in the morning. Slathering this on accomplishes both of those things and makes me feel like I have a fancy skin routine with just a couple pumps of a bottle. Oh, and the bottle is large and lasts a while.

Get it from Sephora or Amazon for $42.

17. Classic Ugg slippers that are basically the ultimate around-the-house wardrobe staple, like the couch-appropriate equivalent of a little black dress.

amazon.com

"I first got these when I was in high school and wore them to my grandmother's house for a BBQ. She ended up helping herself to them and wore them between the kitchen and yard all day — so they're teenager and grandmother-approved." —Victoria Vouloumanos

Get them from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in sizes 5-12 and in 12 colors).

18. Myro, a natural deodorant that's available in a subscription and impressively customizable. You can choose a pretty reusable case and receive regular refills (in one fave scent or mix them up)! The refill pods are even recyclable.

Myro

You can subscribe to refills every three, four, or six months and cancel any time.

"TBH, I wasn't looking for environmentally friendly deodorant, although I swear I love Mother Earth. My go-to fragrance-free deodorant was discontinued so I just desperately needed one that wouldn't irritate my sensitive underarm skin and would keep me smelling fresh. All the other natural deodorants I tried DEFINITELY DID NOT KEEP ME FRESH. I had to re-up several times throughout the day just to avoid a sweaty smell, which wasn't my norm and made me feel self-conscious. Finally, I stumbled upon the Myro deodorant and figured I'd just try it since I tried everything else (Native, Tom's, Almay, you name it). I was skeptical because it smelled so good and my severely sensitive skin typically doesn't play nice with scents. I guess since the product is truly natural, that's why it didn't irritate me. Fair warning: I peeped that the deodorant has low ratings on like two sites but it appears that the Myro brand listened to the people, as its website notes that it's upgraded the formula. I've been using it for about three weeks. I apply it once daily and don't have to break my schedule to re-up, haven't had any itchy patches develop under my arms, and FINALLY get to enjoy a great scented product again, which I haven't been able to do in years. BTW, the scent I have is the Chill Wave which smells like cucumber, jasmine, and spearmint 👃🏾❤️." —Marquaysa Battle

Get a one-time purchase for $15 or a starter kit for $10 when you subscribe, both from Myro (available in five scents and seven case colors — you can also customize your case with text for an additional $6).

19. A chic neoprene carryall available in sizes ranging from everyday cross-body to full-on weekend duffel. If you want to replace every bag you own with one of these, no judgment — especially since they're an It item on the BF Shopping team.

Dagne Dover

The larger sizes even have a strap that allows them to be secured over the handle of rolling luggage!

"This bag is a favorite on our team. I have it in two sizes — large and extra large — and love them both in different ways. Both are made with neoprene fabric, so the bag is soft to the tough and a bit stretchy, which means I can fit SO much into it. Plus, it has a ton of interior pockets and a pocket on the outside that's designed perfectly to fit your phone (genius, if you ask me). I've used both sizes as carry-on bags and the extra-large does fit under the seat in front of you. But the bags are great for more than just flying. I've also used the large for weekend trips and fit all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries in it. Now, I personally don't go to the gym, but I know people do use it as a gym bag or even as a diaper bag. It's a great investment you'll find yourself using for years." —Abby Kass

Get it from Dagne Dover for $79+ (available in five sizes and nine colors and prints) or Nordstrom for $155+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

20. Milk Makeup's Kush lip balm, a cannabis seed oil-based calming and hydrating treat for your lips. ~Weed~ surely rate it more than a 4/20. 😉

Kayla Boyd/BuzzFeed

"I love this lip balm because it's ~super~ moisturizing. The 'Green Dragon' shade goes on completely clear so it also makes a great base to wear under lipstick. It's ultra comfy to wear, nonsticky, and doesn't flake. Plus, the lid is magnetic and the overall packaging is really nice quality." —Kayla Boyd

Get it from Sephora for $16 (available in six shades).

21. A fold-up tricycle that can be converted from one you push your kiddo in to one they steer themselves, so they won't outgrow it as quickly as they do their other toys...and clothes...and shoes...

Amazon

"Working from home with a child who's about to start walking, I'm counting myself very lucky to be able to witness this milestone moment. But I'm also running out of ways to entertain (and tire out) the little guy and I don't want to resort to more screen time. Since our living room is now a full-time play area, I figured it's time to get this kid his first ride. After some research, I set my sights on the Doona Liki Trike S3, aka 'the smallest folding trike on the market.' This three-wheeler will grow with your toddler, from a parent-push-operated vehicle to an independent, pedal tricycle. In that regard, it's a solid two-year investment. While the Liki is ideal for travel (in the future), thanks to the easy and compact way it folds up, it's also handy for apartment living where storage space is at a premium. The not-too-soft, not-too-hard wheels are perfectly fine on hardwood floors and carpeted hallways. Also, the cup holder and storage bag (that attaches to the adjustable parent handle) are so clutch. Super thoughtful design all around and a super happy little tike riding his trike all around the building." —John Milhaly

Get it from Amazon for $249 (available in two colors).

22. Glossier's Milky Jelly Cleanser, a super gentle (as in, it's even okay if you accidentally get some in your eyes) and pH-balanced cleanser sure to become your new fave part of your routine.

Glossier

It's cruelty-free and vegan!

"I have extremely sensitive skin, and back in fall 2019 I experienced a sudden onset of cystic acne all over my face, went on birth control for it in December, and now six months later, my skin is completely clear and I finally want to try all of these skincare products I was too scared to use. As someone who was using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for YEARS, I was nervous to make the switch to Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, and full expected I'd try it once and have to retire it. Quite the opposite actually. This cleanser is truly SO gentle. Rather than leaving my skin feeling hot and irritated like some skincare products do, this leaves my skin with a cooling sensation and I actually really look forward to washing my face in the morning and at night, rather than dread it. I haven't worn makeup much lately, but the few times I have since buying this cleanser, it's done an excellent job of removing my makeup, and I can go to sleep with peace of mind that my pores aren't clogged up." —Sam Wieder

Get it from Glossier for $9+ (available in two sizes).

23. Mid-thigh length shapewear shorts that are surprisingly easy and breezy — they're comfortable and light enough for the summer and are even machine-washable!

Skims

"Raise your hand if you've ever turned yourself into a sweaty mess thanks to wearing shapewear in the humid summer heat. *Raises both hands.* When Skims dropped their sheer line, I nabbed a pair of these in Clay (the second lightest color that also happens to most closely match my skin tone). I've worn them around the house (thanks, quar) under slinkier sundresses and love how they help with the air flow while still doing what shapewear promises. Not that I'd normally wear shapewear around the house, but I couldn't wait to try out those shorts!" —Elizabeth Lilly

Get them from Skims for $44 (available in sizes XXS-5X and in five colors).

24. Floofy peach earrings for a quirky and ~pit~ch perfect finishing touch to your look.

TitinaStore/Etsy

"I got these absolutely peachy earrings for a friend with a passion for chunky earrings. These did not disappoint! They're just as fluffy and lusciously pink IRL. Seriously just cute enough to eat. Despite their large size, they're not that heavy so you don't have to worry about them dragging your ear lobes down. The fluff also holds up really well! My friend wears them a lot and they still look just as puffy as when she got them." —Bek O'Connell

Get them from TitinaStore Etsy for $38 (available with one leaf or two).

25. Ilia Multi-Stick, a cruelty-, sulfate-, and paraben-free roll-on formula you can rock on your cheeks *and* your lips. Because why use two products when you can just use one?

Sephora

"I've spent the majority of my makeup-loving years totally avoiding blush because I always thought it highlighted my cheek breakouts and always looked so patchy on my skin. Ilia is a brand I've recently become obsessed with because of their ~clean beauty~ products and when I saw this multi-stick, I figured that if anything I'd just use it as a nice, natural-looking lip color that complemented my skin tone. Curiosity got the best of me and I wound up also applying it to my cheeks and was amazed by the soft but pretty color it created on my face. I could add as much or as little as I wanted since the formula is really light and creamy. Not only did it give my cheeks a rosy hue, but it also added a little extra dimension to my face that's just not there when I'm only using foundation. I seriously can't stop looking at my face in the mirror when I apply this stuff." —Jasmin Suknanan

Get it from Sephora for $34 (available in eight shades).

26. An absolutely amazing punny tee for anyone (like me) whose two favorite things are pasta and fashion. Talk about adding a ~saucy~ touch to your wardrobe.

Hit and Run

"This is from a collection of pasta-theme shirts designed by artists (this one's by Mickey J. Ellis) to raise money for the employee fund that helps out hourly-wage workers at Pastaio restaurants (who, like many, have been affected by closings as part of COVID-19 precautions). I saw this and HAD to have it for myself. It's made of super soft fabric that's thick enough so you won't have to worry about your bra showing through (in case that's a concern) and the printing is great quality. FYI, this is printed to order (yay to less waste!) in London so you won't get it in 48 hours, so just be patient!" —Elizabeth Lilly

Get it from Hit and Run for $37.87 (available in sizes S-XXL).

Me and my coworkers writing about these products:

NBC

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.